SIGNING ON THE DOTTED LINE — Students in the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Early Childhood Education program participated in the first statewide Health and Human Services Signing Day on October 4. Students are committed to receiving Child Development Associate training to earn their CDA credentials. towards obtaining a job. Participating in the program, from left, were Serenity Monigold, Hannah Sherbondy, Raeni Kerr, Claire Watkins, Leona Clutter and Kaley Joynson-Beebe. Also on the program are Raelynn Woodworth and Lea Riggs. — Contributed

BLOOMINGDALE — Early childhood education students signed on the dotted line Oct. 4, committing to child development associate training during their senior year at Jefferson County Joint Vocational School.

Instructor Rebecca Kelley said eight seniors in her class participated in the first Ohio-wide Health and Human Services signing day.

By agreeing to complete the program requirements, students will earn the nationally recognized CDA credential.

Signatories include Leona Clutter, Claire Watkins, Kaley Joynson-Beebe, Serenity Monigold, Hannah Sherbondy, Raeni Kerr, Raelynn Woodworth and Lea Riggs.

Kelley said this is a path to career advancement in early childhood education.

“Nearly every daycare with a Step Up to Quality rating wants an employee to have a CDA” Kelley said. “We have been working with CDA for eight years, but last year was the first year we signed.”

Students must complete 120 hours of child development education and 480 hours of work with young children to receive their CDA.

Ways to accumulate these hours include coursework in the program, a preschool lab where students interact with preschoolers, preparing them for kindergarten; take a test at Belmont College; be observed by a professional development specialist and create a portfolio to also follow training and education.

Students can earn college credit toward higher education degrees.

“We build this portfolio throughout their senior year and a lot of the information is relevant to early childhood.” Kelley said. “This is the first time all seniors are on track to get it.”

The training equips students to become qualified early childhood education teachers for children ages 0-5 and ensures they graduate from high school with the skills employers seek.

She noted that highly qualified and certified teachers are in high demand across the state and this title could open doors to job prospects, including teacher aide and substitute teacher. Students can also obtain administrative roles in child care and preschool programs.

Health and Human Services Signing Day was made possible through the Career Compass for Health and Human Services and is funded by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.